art travel oakdale

Arts & Culture

Creativity that creates community. Oakdale is proud to be a growing mural & arts destination.

Explore the Arts

"yesterday is tomorrow".

Bronze sculpture by artist Betty Saletta commemorating the Cowboy Capital of the World by artist Betty Saletta.   Commissioned by the Oakdale Redevelopment Agency in 1991.  Located in the Visitor  Center   Plaza. 

OakdaleArts

OakdaleArts is Increasing the visibility and awareness of art in the community through education, experiences, and events

Antiquing! 

Antiques, collectables and unique gifts in downtown Oakdale. 

AIRPORT, SEAPORT AND TAXI HIRE   IN BLACKWOOD AND SOUTH WALES

First-class taxi hire services.

Airport and seaport transfers

Contact us today to discuss your requirements.

Corporate travel

We have a wealth of experience in corporate travel and we can provide quality services to our corporate clients. Get in touch with us for more information. We will be happy to help you.

Event travel

We provide courteous and reliable taxi services for events. Contact us for more details.

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(631) 218-2810   •  [email protected]

Running on the Main Stage May 4-18

Upcoming performances.

Saturday Night Fever

Willy Wonka

• Family Theatre

Til Death Do Us Part…You First!

• Special Event
• April 19-20

Elephant & Piggy

West Side Story

• August 17-September 7

Jekyll & Hyde

• October 5-19

Beauty and the Beast

• November 2-17

A Christmas Story

• December 7-22

School of Rock

• September 20-22

Rock of Ages

• January 18-February 1

Partnering Sponsors

Beyond the Stage

Education & community.

Educating the next generation of artists and partnering with the current generation of educators is a cornerstone of CM’s mission. Learn more about our camps and classes for children, teens and adults, and how CM can support your school’s classroom with our world-class arts education programs.

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Take your CM Performing Arts Center experience to the next level!

The CM Gems are passionate supporters of the arts who invest in CM’s artistic, educational, and community programs. They are committed to ensuring the legacy and future of CM’s Impossible Dream and enjoy exclusive benefits to enhance their theatre-going experience!

Click here to learn more

Stay In Touch

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CM Performing Arts Center 931 Montauk Highway Oakdale, NY 11769

Box Office: (631) 218-2810 Email: [email protected]

Special Offer

Now thru november 27.

- Elf the Musical: Buy 2 Get 1 Free (Regular Seats) - Frozen Jr.: Buy 2 Get 1 Free (Regular Seats) - Elf the Musical: 10% Off VIP Tables - Frozen Jr.: 10% Off VIP Tables - New CM Gems Signups: Automatically Level-Up to the next tier (Amethyst to Ruby) All discounts applied automatically. Cannot be combined with any other offer or applied to previous sales.

• [email protected]
• 860-443-4367
• 1650 Hartford-New London Turnpike, Oakdale, CT 06370

• Pricing + Hours
• Roaring Fun at T-Rex Tower
• Monty’s Playground
• Lapilli Landing
• A-MAZE-asaurus
• Food & Drink
• Ice Cream Shoppe
• Hours: 10 AM - 6 PM
• Artistic Jewelry Store
• A to Z Mineral Shop
• Absolute Bead Shop
• Ageless Toy Shop
• Ancient Fossil Shop
• Artful Gift Shop
• Geode Center
• Gem Digging
• Panning for Gold
• Genius Museum
• The PAST Antiques
• Pricing & Hours

We want to hear from you.

We encourage you to contact us at any time with your questions, comments or concerns!

Nature’s Art Village & The Dinosaur Place :

Phone: 860-443-4367 Email: [email protected]

The PAST Antiques Marketplace & Genius Museum :

Phone: 860-437-3615 Email: [email protected]

Mailing & GPS Address:

Nature’s Art Village 1650 Hartford New London Turnpike Oakdale, CT 06370

Physical Address:

1650 Route 85 Montville, CT

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How Our Tours Work

All of our tours are private, not public. So the tour is arranged just for you and yours.

• We recommend using our online booking tool for up-to-date availability.
• Select your tour experience and set your preferred date and time.
• Our booking system will help you select the right guide from our team of art historians based on the guides' availability.
• Tell us a bit about your interests and private group. We'll customize your tour from there.
• Your confirmation will show where the guide will meet you at the museum.
• Private tours for 1 - 4 people in your group booked online* are $225 per hour (a $5 discount over tours booked via email or phone).
• All tours have a two-hour minimum.
• Additional people and/or additional time have an additional fee.
• Museum admission needs to be added for each person. This will be added during your booking.
• We'll get your tickets ahead of time for you. So you can skip the lines!

Prefer a personalized booking experience?

* For those who need a bit more service via email and phone, our pricing is $225 per hour for 1 – 4 people. Larger groups are $50 per adult, $25 per child.

Real Art Historians, not scripted actors

ART SMART's art guides are primarily graduate-level professional art historians from top universities who have their fingers on the pulse of the art world.

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Personal Art Travel Itineraries Crafted for You and Yours

Art Smart Travels plans and leads private art tours through a broad range of locations in the United States and Europe. Our elite, personalized travel programs cater to your specific interests and needs so that you spend your time with personally satisfying treasures that will mean the most to you. Our travel advisory services include:

• Itinerary planning for self-guided tours An Art Smart consultant will work with you to develop a detailed itinerary featuring the perfect mix of experiences for your destination. We’ll assemble a portfolio of cultural resources, design a workable schedule, and arrange luxury travel programs that will make your experience insightful, delightful, and stress-free. Thanks to our extensive network of contacts, we can assist you in the selection of a local art expert to guide you in most locales.
• Escorted travel For a luxury experience, an Art Smart art historian can travel with you to provide the personalized guidance through art museums and cultural monuments. Along the way, you will receive expedited and VIP-level access to art venues.

Are You Traveling as a Family with Kids in Tow?

Art Smart knows how to make the most of your family’s travels around the world. We’ll start by building a custom list of recommended books and resources that are great for introducing your family to the area that you’ll be visiting. Then we’ll send you on your way with a custom guide to the can’t-miss masterpieces at your destination.

From the New York City Tri-State Area

We can use local art collections to familiarize your family with what you should look for while you are traveling. For a truly unforgettable experience, an Art Smart expert can travel with your family to provide the highest possible level of on-site expertise and guidance.

Let Art Smart Travels Assist with Your Next Cultural Trip

Give us a call at (212) 595-4444 or email . Tell us when and where you will be traveling, what you hope to see, and a little bit about your interests. With that, we’ll create the perfect experience for you.

Having taught art in Oakdale since 1988, Carol Earle knows her way around an art easel and she’s still doing what she loves most — teaching art to whoever wants to put a brush in their hand.

“A lot of the students I have now are the kids of former students,” Earle said, smiling.

Currently, Earle has afterschool classes for kids, ages 7 and up, and adult classes for anyone who is interested in picking up a new skill, hobby or undiscovered talent.

Each class, students work with acrylic paint on a chosen art subject and by the end of the session, they have something to take home for their efforts. Recently, youngsters focused on Halloween-themed paintings.

The classes are held at The Hobby Shop in Oakdale and all materials are included in the class price.

Classes are $15 per class and Earle is accepting new artists.

Earle is a member of the Oak Valley Art Society and the Valley Art Association.

For more information or to sign up for the adult or children classes, call The Hobby Shop at 209-847-8772 or Earle at 209-380-6288.

Art Travel Design

Art Travel Design is an innovative travel company based in London and Venice. 

We organise both bespoke and pre-arranged beautiful insider's trips for the contemporary traveller. our specialist led tours range from art, to architecture, from artisans to secret gardens, from food to history . ,  we offer spotless organization, great fun and we open doors that will make your trip memorable.  , what clients say about us.

 "Thank you for your wonderful organization, you were like the swan. Smooth and calm yet pedalling away under water to make everything so wonderful and seamless!"

Margaret M. (Irl) / trip to Venice, 2022

"The trip was so carefully organised and Giorgia has looked after us superbly. The whole trip has been a fantastic success. We all had a tremendous time"

Carolyn T. (UK) / Private trip to the gardens of Provence, 2022

"What a magical trip to Havana! Thank you for doing such a marvelous job organizing us and befriending everyone so that we all felt warm and welcome in Cuba"

Christine K. (US) / Specialists study trip to Cuba, 2019

"Barbara and I would like to thank you for the wonderful tour and the perfect organisation - we appreciate the effort that goes into organising such an event for a demanding clientele. It would be a pleasure to have the opportunity to travel with you again in the future"

Hellmuth W. ( Ger ) / Secret gardens trip to Normandy , 2019

  "Everything was fabulous and the staff quite delightful. Nothing was too much trouble. Our tour manager being the right mixture of efficiency and friendliness"

Karen H. / Music trip to Milan, 2021

  " A big big thank you for everything in Venice. I wouldn't have managed without your care in organising the trip and finding the best restaurants and visits in town "

  Farah F. ( NYC ) / Venice Biennale trip , 20 19

Artsy Traveler

For Independent Travelers Who Love the Arts

Last updated on April 22nd, 2024 at 08:20 am

Welcome to Artsy Traveler !

Do you enjoy independent travel and seeking out museums, art galleries, concerts, and artsy travel experiences? Then you’ve come to the right place.

Like you, I love the arts, and so I created Artsy Traveler to share with independent travelers my passion for fascinating museums, world-class art galleries, compelling performances, thought-provoking historical sites and more.

Artsy Traveler is for you if you love the arts, prefer independent and comfortable travel, and want to get the most value out of your travel dollar.

You’ll find tips about recommended places to go and what to see along with interesting, artsy activities (and occasionally just cool activities!) to seek out. I focus a lot on art because I love art and I also include recommendations for arts-inspired novels to read while you’re on your travels because I love books and reading.

On Artsy Traveler, you’ll also find plenty of posts related to the ins and outs of traveling comfortably and safely, particularly in Europe. Get driving tips, find great places to eat and check out some of my favorite accommodations .

Recent Posts on Artsy Traveler

The world is awash with artistic and cultural sights! Check out these posts to get your imagination fired up for trip planning.

Why Sensational Siena Belongs on Your List of Top Medieval Cities

Two Terrific Small Museums In Amsterdam You Should Visit

Experience the Magic of a Night in Sirmione on Lake Garda

A Week in Fascinating Little Padua Reveals Hidden Treasures

Top Ten Favorites at the Uffizi Gallery in Spectacular Florence

Exploring Fascinating Madrid–Europe’s Best-Kept Secret for the Artsy Traveler

Let’s Go to Lascaux IV in the Stunning Dordogne

Savoring Life in Pont-Aven—The City of Artists

Six Sensational Days in Paris for an Artsy Traveler

Musée d’Orsay in Paris: An Inspiring Must-See for the Artsy Traveler

Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam: Guaranteed Thrills for the Artsy Traveler

Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam: Best Bets for the Artsy Traveler

Spending an Amazing Day at Proyecto Asis Wildlife Refuge in Costa Rica

Out-of-this-World Scenery Sparks Joy on a Maligne Lake Cruise

Check Out an Artsy Traveler Weekend Getaway in Seattle

Experience Western Canada in Style on the Rocky Mountaineer

See Costa Rica in Two Packed and Perfect Weeks

Free Your Inner Floral Artist at Stunning Villa Lena in the Tuscan Countryside

National Gallery of Canada: Best Bets for the Artsy Traveler

15 Must-Dos in Copenhagen for the Artsy Traveler

Accommodation in Copenhagen

Three Recommended Day Trips from Copenhagen

A Trio of Must-See Museums in Copenhagen

Travel Photography As Art: Tips for Taking Great Shots by Guest Poster Julie H. Ferguson

My name is Carol Cram and I live on Bowen Island in British Columbia when I’m not traveling. I’d love to be your guide to artsy traveling, particularly in Europe, but sometimes in other places, depending on where the wind takes me. I’m also an historical novelist with four novels published , all of which are inspired by my love of the arts.

What’s on Artsy Traveler?

Ever since my first trip to Europe with my mom when I was fourteen (see My Story ), I’ve loved planning trips, going on trips, and especially sharing travel tips to help other independent travelers enjoy awesome travel experiences. I guess it’s because for many years I was a teacher, but I really enjoy helping people figure out where to travel, what to see, where to stay, and a lot more.

My usual travel companion is my husband Gregg Simpson. Often, we’re attending his exhibitions while we travell, particularly in Europe. Have a look at Gregg’s fabulous artwork .

In the Fall of 2022, Gregg and I spent over eight weeks together in Europe, and I spent another two weeks on my own in England. And then in February 2023, I spent two glorious weeks in Costa Rica. Keep checking back; I’m adding new posts every week about my travels, that is, when I’m not busy planning our next trip to Europe in Fall, 2023!

I’m overflowing with gratitude that I’m able to travel and hoping I can share some tips and inspiration with you!

My Trip to Kauai

In April 2022, I took my first international trip since 2019 and wow, it was awesome! I jetted off to Kauai, Hawaii, for a solo writer’s retreat. It felt so good to be traveling again and to be writing about traveling. I created these three posts about my Kauai trip to help you plan your own Kauai adventure.

What to See and Do on Kauai

Six Highlights of a Kauai Vacation

Ten Tips for Traveling Solo on Kauai

Our Mission

Increasing the visibility and awareness of art in the community through education, experiences, and events.

Meet the Members of OakdaleARTS

Oakdale Arts work diligently to transform bare, abandoned walls of Oakdale, CA into artistic gateways to the community’s heritage. Meet the volunteers who help make this happen.

Cheryl Dillwood

Cheryl Dillwood, is a local artist and interior designer with over 30 years of experience in residential and commercial design. Cheryl has participated in local designer showcase projects and the annual Art of Justice fundraiser. Cheryl’s lifelong commitment to self expression through art and design has recently landed her at OakdaleARTS where she is passionate about bringing creative art projects to her hometown of Oakdale.

Rhonda Darling McDonald

Rhonda Darling McDonald is a local artist and a proud member of OakdaleARTS. With 34 years of artistic collaboration with Sue & Rhonda Wall Design, she has specialized in interior art for custom homes and businesses, excelling in faux finishes, murals, and restoration work. Beyond her professional endeavors, Rhonda passionately shares her artistic knowledge by teaching children’s art, embodying her commitment to nurturing creativity in the community.

Nancy Podolsky

Nancy, a dedicated Oakdale native, raised her children while successfully managing her own business, Oakdale Stitching Post. Her commitment extends beyond entrepreneurship, as she contributed to the community by serving on the hospital board, volunteering at the hospital, and is currently an engaged member of the local garden club. As a member of OakdaleARTS, she continues to play a vital role in enhancing the cultural fabric of her beloved hometown.

Lindy Giovannoni

Lindy Giovannoni is a proud member of a multigenerational Oakdale family with a rich artistic legacy.     She and her husband formerly owned and  operated  Gio Signs & Designs as well as Gio Arts. Lindy is dedicated to serving  her  community; she is a past member of the local chapter of Beta Sigma Phi and has facilitated and coached two cheerleading programs for Oakdale High School. Lindy is honored to serve her community through the artistic works of OakdaleArts.

Sheryl Mack

Sheryl Mack, is a devoted Oakdale resident, where she has raised her family, while engaging in volunteer work. She has made significant contributions to the school PTO, as a hospital volunteer and co-managing the hospital Gift Shop.     As a current member of the Oakdale Garden Club and recent addition to OakdaleARTS, Sheryl delights in channeling her creativity for the betterment of her community.

to submit an obituary

To place an obituary, please include the information from the obituary checklist below in an email to [email protected] . There is no option to place them through our website. Feel free to contact our obituary desk at 651-228-5263 with any questions.

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In order to publish obituaries a name and phone number of funeral home/cremation society is required. We must contact the funeral home/cremation society handling the arrangements during their business hours to verify the death. If the body of the deceased has been donated to the University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program, or a similar program, their phone number is required for verification.

Please allow enough time to contact them especially during their limited weekend hours.

A death certificate is also acceptable for this purpose but only one of these two options are necessary.

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We are not allowed to reference other media sources with a guestbook or an obituary placed elsewhere when placing an obituary in print and online. We may place a website for a funeral home or a family email for contact instead; contact us with any questions regarding this matter.

Obituary Process:

Once your submission is completed, we will fax or email a proof for review prior to publication in the newspaper. This proof includes price and days the notice is scheduled to appear.

Please review the proof carefully. We must be notified of errors or changes before the notice appears in the Pioneer Press based on each day’s deadlines.

After publication, we will not be responsible for errors that may occur after final proofing.

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Pre-payment is required for all obituary notices prior to publication by the deadline specified below in our deadline schedule. Please call 651-228-5263 with your payment information after you have received the proof and approved its contents.

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• The minimum charge is $162 for the first 10 lines.
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• For example: if first run date was 20 lines the cost would be $164.
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• For example: 2 photos in the paper on 2 days would be 4 photo charges at $500.

Please follow deadline times to ensure your obituary is published on the day requested.

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Unlike an obituary, Memoriam submissions are remembrances of a loved one who has passed. The rates for a memoriam differ from obituaries.

HOURS: Monday – Friday 8:00AM – 5:00PM (CLOSED WEEKENDS and HOLIDAYS)

Please submit your memoriam ad to [email protected] or call 651-228-5280.

Crime & Public Safety | Oakdale: Coyote warning issued after attack of…

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Crime & Public Safety

Crime & public safety | oakdale: coyote warning issued after attack of dog in nature preserve.

City officials in Oakdale are warning pet owners to use caution while walking their dogs at the Oakdale Nature Preserve after a recent coyote attack.

The coyote sightings have been on the west side of the park near Granada Avenue, city officials said, but visitors are being asked to take caution throughout the park at this time.

A coyote attacked a domestic dog in the nature preserve earlier this week, but no people have been attacked, city officials said in a Facebook post .

“The Oakdale Police Department is working with the DNR (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources) on the situation,” the post states. “Police are securing the area of sightings, and signage will be placed at park entrances. Updates will be provided when available.”

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Travel | Southwest Airlines is considering changes to…

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Travel | southwest airlines is considering changes to its quirky boarding and seating practices.

By DAVID KOENIG (AP Airlines Writer)

DALLAS (AP) — Southwest Airlines is studying changes to its quirky boarding and seating policies as it searches for ways to raise more revenue .

Airline officials say they are studying possible changes but won’t have anything to announce until September. That tease is leading to speculation about whether Southwest might ditch some longstanding traditions, including the practice of passengers picking their own seats only after they board a plane.

CEO Robert Jordan says he is proud of Southwest’s “product,” but it was developed when flights weren’t as full as they are today, and customers’ preferences change over time, prompting the “deep dive” into “transformational options” in boarding and seating.

“Early indications, both for our customers and for Southwest, look pretty darn interesting,” he told analysts and reporters Thursday.

Every other major U.S. airline sells first- or business-class seats with more room and amenities. They assign seats long before passengers arrive at the airport. And increasingly, they charge extra if economy-class passengers want to pick a particular seat, such as one in an exit row or near the front of the cabin.

Those policies generate significant “ancillary revenue.” Delta Air Lines took in $4.4 billion in “premium products” during the first quarter.

Southwest doesn’t have a first-class cabin or assigned seats. Passengers line up in the gate area in an order determined partly by who checked in first and – increasingly – who paid extra to move up in line . The lucky or high-paying ones get in the “A” boarding group, followed by the middling “B” crowd and finally the dreaded “C” group, whose unfortunate inhabitants usually wind up in a middle seat, maybe in the back of the plane.

Over the years, Southwest customers learned to check in online exactly 24 hours before departure to get the best shot at grabbing the seat they wanted. In 2009, the airline began charging an extra fee — called EarlyBird — to move up in the boarding line. The fee starts at $15 per flight but goes up when planes are full.

Jordan said any changes must generate significant new revenue and can’t slow down flights . Beyond that, he was deliberately and repeatedly vague, but executives did indicate that two possible changes have been ruled out already.

Ryan Green, Southwest’s chief commercial officer, said the airline won’t impose baggage charges — it’s the only U.S. carrier that lets passenger check one or two bags for free. He said Southwest also won’t install curtains like those that separate premium cabins from the economy-class section on other airlines.

Savanthi Syth, an airlines analyst with Raymond James Financial, said the lack of assigned seating is “a huge pain point for passengers,” although a shrinking contingent still likes it. Syth thinks passengers would prefer the ability to select a seat in advance to trying to get a better spot in the boarding line.

“More importantly, I think it opens you up to a greater pool of passengers that would not consider (Southwest) because of the stress of the current process,” she said. “This is particularly important now that Southwest has lost the differentiation of no change or cancellations fees.” Southwest’s closest rivals dropped change fees too during the pandemic.

Syth is less convinced that Southwest needs a first-class cabin, but she thinks adding extra-legroom seats could be attractive. “There are plenty of tall people who could use the extra space,” she said.

Southwest executives are frequently asked about changes in their policies around baggage, seating and first-class cabins. At an industry conference in November, Jordan said there was nothing in the works.

What changed?

Southwest’s financial results have become more dismal. The company reported Thursday that it lost $231 million in the first quarter, which was worse than analysts expected and a wider loss than a year ago.

The Dallas-based airline faces sharply rising labor costs — up 19% or $462 million from a year ago, and that was before flight attendants ratified a new contract with sharply higher wages. Spending on maintenance and airport fees are rising by double-digit percentages. And Southwest can’t add as many flights as it would like because a production crisis at Boeing means there are fewer new planes.

The company is freezing hiring other than critical positions, and it will take the rare step of pulling out of four airports in August to cut costs. Even with revenue rising on strong travel demand , the airline needs more to offset inflation.

The airline promises that whatever it decides, it won’t change Southwest’s unique character. That could be a tricky balancing act in the view of its many loyal customers. They must wait out the next several months.

“We are committed to a set of new strategic initiatives. I have hinted at boarding and seating and the cabin, and we’re going to share those with you at investor day” in September, Jordan told analysts.

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6 alternative and arty ways to discover Mexico City culture

Amid art deco architecture and Frida Kahlo’s creations, find Mexico City’s pre-Hispanic traditions and an Indigenous crafts scene.

Mexico’s sprawling capital is a gateway to the country’s Maya ruins, miles of beaches, rocky canyons and traditional Indigenous villages. But many travellers find the metropolis has an allure all of its own, and a handful of days can be well spent touring its neighbourhoods and historic centre. Mexico’s best museums are here, and its many galleries and markets help facilitate one of the strongest creative scenes in Latin America. Dig a little deeper to find the city’s pre-Hispanic roots, and discover how many customs are linked to the ancient Aztec and Maya civilisations.

1. Kayak the ancient canals of Xochimilco

Before the Spanish conquest in 1521, Mexico City, then called Tenochtitlán, was built on two small islands inside Lake Texcoco. The Aztecs built canals and floating farms called chinampas to feed its growing population. Today, all that remains of these ancient waterways are in Tláhuac and Xochimilco, a neighbourhood 15 miles south of Mexico City’s Centro Histórico. Flat-bottomed party boats called trajineras cruise Xochimilco’s canals daily, but a guided kayaking trip provides a more tranquil — and environmentally friendly — visit. Tours offer the chance to spot Xochimilco’s wildlife, including the critically endangered axolotl salamander and more than 200 bird species, while learning about the history and science behind chinampas, which still provide food for Mexico City residents.

2. Browse the Museo de Arte Popular

In the historic centre of Mexico City is the Museo de Arte Popular , a beautifully designed handicraft museum housed inside a 1920s art deco building. The museum, which once served as Mexico City’s fire department headquarters, celebrates traditional Mexican craft in all its forms, from textiles and pottery to children’s toys, furniture and giant alebrijes — mythical creatures made from wood or papier-mache. High-quality crafts from almost every Mexican state are displayed thematically over several floors, including ceramics from Jalisco, piñatas from Puebla and ceremonial masks from Chiapas. Particularly striking are the small but impressive Day of the Dead craft collection and the á rbol de la vida (tree of life) pieces – colourful, intricate clay sculptures depicting the creation of life.

3. Sip on pulque, the drink of the Aztec gods

Pulque is a drink made from the fermented sap of agave, the same plant used to make tequila and mezcal. It has been drunk for more than 2,000 years, making it Mexico’s oldest alcoholic beverage. During the Aztec empire, pulque was considered a sacred drink, reserved for gods, emperors and ceremonial events. The introduction of beer and distilled spirits by the Spanish in the 16th century marked the beginning of the end for pulque, with many of Mexico City’s pulquerias — taverns specialising in the drink — closing between the early 20th and 21st centuries. But a recent resurgence has seen several reopen across the city, making it one of the best places in Mexico to try the tipple. La Canica — a pulqueria in the Tabacalera neighbourhood run by a family that has been in the pulque business for five generations — takes a modern approach to the ancient drink, infusing freshly made pulque with dozens of seasonal flavours, from guava and mandarin to marzipan and toasted oats.

4. Try Mexico City’s ancient caviar

Ahuautle — which loosely translates to ‘seeds of joy’ in the ancient Nahuatl language and are also known as ‘water fly eggs’ — were sacred to the Aztecs. During the rainy season, a type of water fly called axayácatl would lay its eggs in Lake Texcoco. These were harvested for Aztec emperors and used as offerings to the gods. Montezuma, one of the last emperors of the Aztec empire, is said to have eaten them every morning to improve his strength. Hard to get hold of and up to four times more expensive a kilogram than beef, the eggs have been dubbed ahuautle , the ‘caviar’ of Mexico, by the capital’s chefs. Only a handful of restaurants in the capital still serve ahuautle, one of which is Ayluardo’s — in the Iztapalapa neighbourhood, in the east of Mexico City. It serves the water fly eggs — which taste intensely fishy, similar to dried shrimp — in pancakes with tomatillo (a bright green, acidic fruit native to Mexico) and serrano chilli sauce.

5. Support indigenous crafts at Mercado de Artesanías de la Ciudadela

Just a few minutes’ walk from Museo de Arte Popular is this hub for artisans, Mexico City’s largest and best arts and crafts market. It is home to 350 stands selling a huge variety of crafts, or artesanias in Spanish, from all over Mexico, including handblown glass from Jalisco, silver jewellery from Guerrero and patterned chaquira beadwork from Jalisco, crafted by the indigenous Huichol people. For beautiful ceremonial Mayan masks made of wood and obsidian, head to stand 104, where you’ll often see the craftspeople at work. Also seek out the artisans selling amate — colourful works painted on to paper made from the pulp of fig and mulberry trees; the same type of paper was once used by the ancient Aztecs and Mayas to produce manuscripts.

6. Experience Mexican folk dance at El Ballet Folklórico de México

Founded in 1952 by choreographer and dancer Amalia Hernández, Ballet Folklórico celebrates Mexico’s diverse folklore traditions through dance, music and traditional dress. The performances take audiences from Mexico’s ancient past up to the revolution in 1910, travelling through the states of Oaxaca, Jalisco, Sonora, Zacatecas, Guerrero and more. Many of the dances take inspiration from Mexico’s Indigenous cultures, such as the Deer Dance (a contemporary piece that depicts a pre-hunting ritual practised by the Indigenous people of Sonora and Sinaloa) and the Guelaguetza, a folkloric ballet inspired by the ceremonial dances of the Mixtec and Zapotec people of Oaxaca. Performances are held at the Palacio de Bellas Artes — a white-marbled, art nouveau palace commissioned by President Porfirio Díaz in 1905 — on Wednesdays at 8.30pm and Sundays at 9.30am and 8.30pm.

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• CULTURAL CONSERVATION
• ART HISTORY
• MODERN HISTORY

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Election Updates: Watchdog group accuses the Trump campaign of violating finance law.

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Neil Vigdor

Steve Garvey, the former L.A. Dodgers star and Republican U.S. Senate candidate in California, accused University of Southern California of enabling pro-Palestinian protests and equated the encampments to terrorism for obstructing "the pathway to classes." The school's provost noted yesterday that it asked protesters to remove the tents and closed campus gates to keep the demonstration from growing.

Zolan Kanno-Youngs

During a speech about federal investments in semiconductor manufacturing, Mr. Biden again trolled Republicans who voted against or criticized his CHIPS act. “My predecessor and his MAGA Republican friends have a very different view,” Mr. Biden said, as he celebrated $6.1 billion grant for Micron. Referring to Representatives Brandon Williams and Elise Stefanik, Biden said, “I guess they’re not going to be here today to celebrate.”

President Biden is preparing to deliver a speech celebrating $6.1 billion in grants to Micron Technology, the latest federal award to bolster semiconductors. “It’s going to have a gigantic impact,” Biden said. As he entered the science and technology museum where he will speak here in Syracuse, a group of about 100 pro-Palestinian protesters across the street chanted “ceasefire now!”

Five Republicans and three Democrats submitted signatures to the state of Michigan to try to qualify for their party primaries on Aug, 6 for the state's open U.S. Senate seat. G.O.P. petition filers included a trio of former House members: Mike Rogers, Peter Meijer and Justin Amash. The Democrats included Representative Elissa Slotkin and the actor Hill Harper.

Federal filings show that Christina Bobb was paid $5,288.82 on March 29 by the R.N.C., which provided a statement from Steven Cheung, a Trump campaign spokesman, in response to questions about her status. Mr. Cheung said Ms. Bobb’s indictment in Arizona was another example of Democrats’ weaponization of the justice system. “The Democrat platform for 2024: if you can’t beat them, try to throw them in jail.”

One name to watch in the Arizona election indictment is Christina Bobb, a right-wing former lawyer for Donald Trump whom the R.N.C. hired as a senior election counsel. “This tells you all you need to know about today’s Republican National Committee,” Liz Cheney wrote on X , “The person in charge of election integrity for the @GOP was just indicted in Arizona for a lack of election integrity.”

North Carolina’s elections board said Thursday that felons who have not completed their sentences remain ineligible to vote, including parolees and those on probation and supervised release. It attempted to clarify their status after a federal judge on Monday blocked the state from enforcing an 1877 law, one criticized as discriminatory, that made it a crime for offenders who voted without knowing about the ban.

Michael Gold

Donald Trump made a campaign stop this morning at a construction site in Manhattan, where he shook hands with union members. The brief visit, meant to highlight Trump’s criticism of Biden’s economic policies, exemplifies how his campaign intends to balance his court schedule with stops in media-heavy New York City that help him broadcast his national message.

Maggie Astor

Several lawyers and advisers to former President Donald J. Trump, including Rudolph W. Giuliani and Mark Meadows, were indicted in Arizona on Wednesday in connection with efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Trump was named as an unindicted co-conspirator in the case, as well as in a similar case in Michigan .

Donald Trump’s legal team will argue to the Supreme Court this morning that he can’t be prosecuted because former presidents have “absolute immunity” from criminal charges for acts they took in office. Trump’s campaign, meanwhile, sent out a fund-raising email last night titled “Put Biden on Trial,” saying, “CROOKED JOE DESERVES LIFE IN PRISON!”

Chris Cameron

Watchdog group accuses the Trump campaign of violating finance law.

A campaign watchdog group filed a formal complaint to the Federal Election Commission on Wednesday accusing Donald J. Trump’s presidential campaign and related political committees of concealing payments of $7.2 million in legal fees by paying them through an unrelated shell company in violation of campaign finance law.

At the center of the complaint , from the Campaign Legal Center, is the company that received the payments, Red Curve. The company is run by Bradley Crate, who is also the treasurer for the Trump campaign and four related political committees listed in the complaint, as well as for 200 other candidates and committees.

In its complaint, the Campaign Legal Center said that the Trump political committees had used Red Curve, which did not appear to offer legal services, “as a conduit to conceal payments for legal services.” The group filed its complaint hours after The Daily Beast published an article about the payments to Red Curve.

Neither Red Curve nor representatives of the Trump campaign responded to a request for comment.

“This apparent payment scheme, however, violates the reporting requirements of the Federal Election Campaign Act,” the complaint said, “which requires that committees provide detailed information about who they are paying for services, and how much they are paying for those services.”

The complaint also said that Red Curve advanced payments for the legal costs to the Trump committees as part of the payment scheme, potentially violating a campaign finance law that prevents corporations from giving money to candidates.

“What Red Curve was doing was basically making a contribution," said Saurav Ghosh, the director of federal campaign finance reform at the Campaign Legal Center. “If it’s treated as a corporation under federal campaign finance law, then that’s illegal on its face.”

He added: “If, alternatively, it’s an unincorporated entity for campaign finance purposes, then the contributions would be in excess” of the amount permitted by federal law.

Mr. Trump has spent more than $100 million on lawyers and other legal costs since he left office in 2021, relying almost entirely on political donations to cover those expenses. Red Curve was the largest single recipient of those payments, receiving $7.2 million, according to records filed to the F.E.C.

The F.E.C. also on Wednesday fined a pro-Trump super PAC $6,075 in a negotiated settlement for failing to disclose $150,600 in in-kind contributions in an April 2022 quarterly report. The super PAC — Make America Great Again, Again — was once a leading fund-raising group for Mr. Trump. It fell under scrutiny last year for an unusual payment of $155,000 to Melania Trump , Mr. Trump’s wife, for a speaking engagement.

The Trump campaign did not respond to questions about the fine.

In its complaint concerning Red Curve, the Campaign Legal Center cited what it said were similar violations of campaign finance law. The watchdog group noted the use of a law firm by Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign and the Democratic National Committee in 2016 that made payments to the firm Fusion GPS to conduct research against Mr. Trump — research that was used in what became known as the Steele dossier . The Clinton campaign and the D.N.C. agreed to pay $113,000 in fines to settle an F.E.C. investigation into campaign spending disclosures.

“It’s similar to this situation,” Mr. Ghosh said of the Fusion GPS case. “In that there was, you know, a lack of transparency about who’s getting paid. What is the payment for?”

Trump again compares campus protests to the violent white supremacist rally in Charlottesville.

Former President Donald J. Trump emerged from his felony criminal trial in New York on Thursday and again minimized the violence at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., in 2017 while portraying a recent wave of predominantly peaceful pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses as characterized by “tremendous hate.”

One woman was killed and nearly 40 people were injured when an avowed neo-Nazi plowed his car through a crowd of counterprotesters during violent clashes in Charlottesville. Earlier, hundreds of white supremacists had marched through the city, carrying torches and chanting, “Jews will not replace us.”

The current campus protests, while resulting in hundreds of arrests , have had no reports of significant violence.

But standing outside a Manhattan courthouse on Thursday, Mr. Trump said, “Charlottesville was a little peanut and was nothing compared — and the hate wasn’t the kind of hate that you have here. This is tremendous hate.” Of President Biden, he added, “We have a man that can’t talk about it because he doesn’t understand it.”

Andrew Bates, a spokesman for the White House, said in a statement that “minimizing the antisemitic and white supremacist poison displayed in Charlottesville is repugnant and divisive.” He added: “That moment compelled President Biden to run in 2020, because he has fought antisemitism and hate his entire life.”

Mr. Trump had used that same characterization about Charlottesville only a day earlier in a post on his social media site. The former president diminished the violence at the far-right rally, calling it “like a ‘peanut’” compared with the campus protests against the war in Gaza, which he distorted as “riots and anti-Israel protests.”

Mr. Trump also in that post repeated an attack on President Biden, saying that he “HATES Israel and Hates the Jewish people,” while adding “the problem is that he HATES the Palestinians even more, and he just doesn’t know what to do!?!?” Mr. Trump has repeatedly insulted Jews who vote for Democrats and for Mr. Biden, saying that they hate their religion and Israel .

Representatives for the Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

Mr. Trump — who also presided over civil unrest set off by the murder of George Floyd by a police officer in May 2020 — sought to downplay a chapter of his presidency that garnered widespread outrage and criticism.

In Charlottesville’s aftermath, Mr. Trump repeatedly drew a moral equivalency between the white supremacists — who brandished swastikas, Confederate flags and “Trump/Pence” signs — and peaceful counterprotesters, asserting that there were “very fine people on both sides.”

Underpinning the Charlottesville gathering of neo-Nazis, antisemites and white supremacists was a racist conspiracy theory, called the great replacement theory, which says that elites, sometimes manipulated by Jews, seek to “replace” and disempower white Americans. The growing prominence of the theory in far-right circles has incited racist terror attacks across the world, including several mass shootings in the United States.

Mr. Biden has in recent months faced protests and opposition to his presidential campaign from Americans who are sympathetic to the plight of the Palestinians and angry at the United States for arming Israel in the fighting in Gaza. Mr. Trump’s social media post on Wednesday sought to portray many of these protesters as a riotous mob, while also seeking to stoke protesters’ anger by claiming that Mr. Biden hates the Palestinians.

Some of the campus demonstrations have included hate speech and expressions of support for Hamas, the militant group in Gaza that carried out attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people. In response to those attacks, Israel has waged a war on Hamas in Gaza, killing more than 34,000 people, mostly women and children , according to the Gaza Health Ministry. This week Mr. Biden condemned demonstrations that he said veered into antisemitism, but he also expressed sympathy for the Palestinians.

“I condemn the antisemitic protests,” Mr. Biden told reporters on Monday. “I also condemn those who don’t understand what’s going on with the Palestinians.”

Biden was in Syracuse as Trump’s trial continued in Manhattan.

President Biden was in Syracuse, N.Y., today to promote investments from the CHIPS and Science Act and other economic policies enacted during his administration.

The reliably blue state is again the center of political attention during the 2024 presidential campaign, after Mr. Biden and former President Donald J. Trump crossed paths last month . But it is the first time that Mr. Biden has traveled to the state during the felony criminal trial of Mr. Trump, his Republican rival.

Mr. Trump’s trial in a Manhattan courthouse was in recess on Wednesday, and will pick back up today — most likely unfolding as Mr. Biden gives his speech in upstate New York, 250 miles away. Mr. Trump made a brief campaign stop early in the morning at a construction site in Manhattan.

It is a dynamic that will continue for at least several more weeks: While Mr. Biden campaigns across the country, Mr. Trump has often been in the Manhattan courtroom.

Mr. Trump has tried to make campaign stops outside of the courtroom, as he did Thursday morning, and on the weekends. But a rally that he had scheduled in North Carolina last weekend was called off because of weather.

And Mr. Trump’s legal troubles have only grown in recent days. On Wednesday, Rudolph W. Giuliani, Mark Meadows and a number of other Trump allies were indicted in Arizona for their role in a fake elector scheme in 2020 that sought to overturn the results of the election in that state. The indictment includes conspiracy, fraud and forgery charges, related to efforts by the defendants to change the 2020 election results.

Mr. Trump was also named an unindicted co-conspirator in the case.

On Wednesday evening, Mr. Trump weighed in on the growing pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses, distorting the mostly peaceful demonstrations as “riots” while downplaying the violence at a 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., saying that “Charlottesville is like a ‘peanut’” in comparison to the current student protests.

Mr. Trump, in the same social media post, accused Mr. Biden of hating Israel and Jewish people, even as Mr. Biden reaffirmed his commitment to Israel as “ironclad.” Mr. Trump has made similar accusations against Jews who vote for Democrats, saying that they hate Israel and their religion.

Trump makes a campaign stop in Manhattan before his trial resumes.

Hours before he was set to return to the courthouse for his criminal trial in Manhattan , former President Donald J. Trump started Thursday morning by visiting a construction site in a campaign stop that exemplified the balancing act required for a candidate who is also a criminal defendant.

In the shadow of what will eventually be the 70-story headquarters of one of the nation’s biggest banks, Mr. Trump shook hands with union workers in a visit meant to highlight his support from working-class voters and draw attention to his criticism of President Biden’s economic policies.

His warm reception — a cheering crowd of roughly 100 people gathered behind him, chanting “we want Trump” — marked a stark contrast from the sober environment of the courthouse where Mr. Trump has spent most weekdays since his trial began last week, and where his comments have largely been limited to addressing reporters in the hallway during breaks.

Mr. Trump has not held a rally since just before the trial began, in part because a planned event in North Carolina last weekend was canceled because of weather. But his visit to the construction site typifies how his campaign is using retail stops in New York, a left-leaning state not expected to be in play in November, to help broadcast his national message.

“I have a lot of support here,” Mr. Trump said, as roughly two dozen workers clambered up scaffolding and equipment to catch a glimpse of him. Among those in the crowd were members of the Teamsters union, whose endorsement Mr. Trump has been courting.

The trip to the construction site kicks off what will be a significant day in Mr. Trump’s legal battles. In Manhattan, where Mr. Trump is accused of falsifying business records, David Pecker, the former publisher of The National Enquirer, is expected to return to the stand and detail the hush-money payment at the center of his case. Asked by reporters, Mr. Trump said that Mr. Pecker had been “very nice” and called him a “nice guy.”

In Washington, the Supreme Court will consider Mr. Trump’s argument that he is immune from prosecution on federal charges that he plotted to subvert the 2020 election. Mr. Trump, who will likely be in the Manhattan courtroom during the oral arguments before the Supreme Court, repeated an argument he has been making for months that “a president has to have immunity, otherwise you just have a ceremonial president.”

Mr. Trump’s appeal to working-class voters was key to his victory in 2016, and as he tries to return to the White House, he has been eager to win the support of rank-and-file union members and to drive a wedge between them and labor leaders who have long favored Democrats.

In January, Mr. Trump met with the Teamsters union’s executive board and said he believed he had a “good shot” at securing the influential union’s endorsement. The union endorsed Mr. Biden in 2020, and its leaders met with the president last month.

Mr. Biden has for years touted his allegiance to unions. On Wednesday he received the endorsement of the North America’s Building Trades Unions, an umbrella group whose leaders pointed to Mr. Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure package.

Jason Miller, a senior Trump campaign adviser, said that Thursday’s visit had been “on the books for some time” and was part of the campaign’s larger strategy to contend with the scheduling challenges posed by the Manhattan trial.

“Since the Biden Trials are an attempt to keep us off the campaign trail, we’ll bring the campaign trail to us,” he said. Mr. Trump has said without citing evidence that the charges are part of an “election interference” scheme orchestrated by Mr. Biden.

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